Tourism shows strong growth; predicted to rise annually

The UN World Tourism Organization, UNWTO, reports that international tourism is continuing its robust growth in 2013.

International tourist arrivals grew by four percent in 2012, with emerging economies, particularly those in Asia and the Pacific, leading advanced economies.

According to Marcelo Risi of the UNWTO, tourism is one of the pillars that should be supported by governments around the world as part of the solution to stimulating economic growth.

Just look at the numbers – tourism represents up to 30 percent of the total export of services in the world. One out of 12 jobs in the world is directly linked to tourism. And international tourism grows especially in developing and emerging economies.

The UNWTO predicts tourism will rise by nearly four percent every year between 2010 and 2020.